Barnesalona League
Barnes FC 1 v Lokomotiv Londres FC 1
Peggy Strike Secures Draw
Another game against Barnes and another close result, these sides although a distance apart in terms of league placings continually provide end to end battles with neither team gaining much of an upper hand.
This game was played at the much loved or sometimes much hated pitch besides Barnes Railway Station, and even though the pitch was dry, it was extremely uneven and a struggle to play good football on.
Loko started the game with a bare eleven, as Pete was late travelling over from Hackney, and had to be content with a place on the bench. Ismail kindly agreed to go in goal, with a back four of Paul, Nick, Rohan and Adrian. Dale and James were in the centre of midfield with Dave H and Peggy on the right and left wing respectively. Stefan and captain Roger started the game upfront.
Loko started well and had Barnes on the back foot for most of the first half, a scrappy half was been dominated by the railwaymen and most of the play was in and around the edge of the Barnes penalty area. The best early chance fell to Roger, after Stefan had headed a ball into his path for him to run onto. The ball took a while to drop kindly with the goalkeeper quickly advancing and his lob cleared the keeper but unfortunately also the crossbar and the chance was wasted.
A second chance arrived immediately when Dale played Roger in down the right hand side of the box, he stood the defender up in front of him and eased to the byline before whipping in a ball to the near post where Stephen arrived but couldn't direct his header on target and the ball flashed a yard wide of the upright.
Loko were clearly on top here with a strong wind behind them and they looked to make the most of the conditions. Five minutes later and Peggy decided to repay the compliment, again it was Dale who played him in space down the left hand side, he turned in a near post cross where Roger got in front of the defender but could only direct the ball over the crossbar from six yards out.
Loko deservedly took the lead on the half hour mark, Dave H, James and Dale harried the Barnes midfield into a mistake and the ball rolled lose to Stefan who played a quality ball thirty yards in behind the Barnes right back where Peggy (pictured above) had advanced chesting the ball down in his path and placing the ball past the keeper into the bottom corner.
Barnes finally came back into the game and one player ran through but could only put the ball wide, then almost immediately a second player got space on the edge of a crowded goal area and also put the ball wide. It served as a warning about what to expect in the second half.
Half-time Barnes FC 0 v Loko 1
At half-time Dale swapped with Ismail in goal so that Ishmail could have 45 minutes running around. Pete replaced Rohan at the back and the system continued as a 4-4-2.
It was a poor start to the second half from the steamers and Barnes equalised five minutes after half-time, a scrap on the edge of the area resulted in the ball falling kindly to their midfielder 12 yards out with not a Loko body within two metres, and he placed it into the bottom corner. Dale in goal misjudged the pace on the ball and tried to get down to it, managing to get his hand on the ball, but unable to keep it out.
Loko started again and looked dangerous going forward, Roger had the pace on the Barnes backline and on numerous occasions got down the line with the final ball just failing to find an onrushing Londres midfielder.
At the other end, Barnes, with the wind behind them had a lot of possession but didn't do much with it. They had a number of long range efforts off target, one dipping just over, and a one on one on the hour mark when he again put the ball wide of the advancing Dale and the post. Other than that it was comfortable for the Loko keeper who took a couple of corners and through balls with ease.
In the final twenty minutes Loko should have won the match, Roger had a drive from the edge of the area comfortably saved by the Barnes keeper, Stefan twice hit shots on the turn but saw them flash across the six yard box. Dave H hit a couple of shots wide from the edge of the box, and on one of those occasions actually had time to bring the ball down one on one with the keeper but didn't receive a shout of time.
Loko best chance arrived with ten minutes remaining when Ismail skinned his man by the touchline and laid it off to Roger near the edge of the box, his strike beat the keeper but came back off the crossbar and with it went the three points, with Loko having to share the spoils.
Once again a game with Barnes and another draw, but solice can be taken from the chances created, and with Ladbroke Groovers losing to Hendrix FC, fourth spot has been secured.
Final Score Barnes FC 1 v Loko 1
Team Line Up
1. Ismail
2. Adrian
3. Paul
4. Rohan
5. Nick
6. Dale
7. Dave H
8. James
9. Stefan
10. Roger (c)
11. Stephen
12. Pete (Replaced Rohan 45th Minute, Rohan replaced Paul (Injury) 65th Minute)
Goal
Stephen (1)
30th Minute - A thirty yard through ball by Stefan was chested down by Peggy one on one with the keeper and he sidefooted the ball home.
Other League Results
Celtic 5 v South Auckland Rangers 2
Hendrix FC 2 v Ladbroke Groovers 0
Real Madras 4 v Cosmpolitan FC 1 (Double Header League Match)
Uncle Bob's FC 1 v West Ken Kings 1
League Table & Top Scorers Updated - click the links on the homepage.
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